Fertility and wanted fertility in Australia
Australia: Fertility and wanted fertility was 1.48 in 2024. ▼ Falling
Latest (2024)
1.48
Change on year
down 1.2%
World rank
153rd
of 215 countries
All-time high
3.54
in 1961
All-time low
1.48
in 2024
Years of data
65
1960–2024
Fertility and wanted fertility in Australia, 1960–2024
Source: Our World in Data.
Analysis
The most recent figure for fertility and wanted fertility in Australia is 1.48, measured in 2024. That is the lowest value across all 65 years on record.
The figure is down 1.2% on the previous year and down 18.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, fertility and wanted fertility in Australia peaked at 3.54 in 1961 and was at its lowest, 1.48, in 2024.
That places Australia 153rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently falling across the 65 years of available data.
Fertility and wanted fertility in Australia, year by year
| Year | Value | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 3.45 | — |
| 1961 | 3.54 | +2.5% |
| 1962 | 3.44 | -2.8% |
| 1963 | 3.33 | -3.2% |
| 1964 | 3.15 | -5.6% |
| 1965 | 2.98 | -5.4% |
| 1966 | 2.88 | -3.2% |
| 1967 | 2.85 | -1.1% |
| 1968 | 2.89 | +1.4% |
| 1969 | 2.89 | -0.1% |
| 1970 | 2.86 | -0.9% |
| 1971 | 2.96 | +3.6% |
| 1972 | 2.74 | -7.3% |
| 1973 | 2.49 | -9.2% |
| 1974 | 2.4 | -3.8% |
| 1975 | 2.15 | -10.4% |
| 1976 | 2.06 | -4.1% |
| 1977 | 2.01 | -2.6% |
| 1978 | 1.95 | -2.9% |
| 1979 | 1.91 | -2.2% |
| 1980 | 1.89 | -0.8% |
| 1981 | 1.94 | +2.3% |
| 1982 | 1.93 | -0.3% |
| 1983 | 1.92 | -0.3% |
| 1984 | 1.84 | -4.4% |
| 1985 | 1.92 | +4.5% |
| 1986 | 1.87 | -2.9% |
| 1987 | 1.84 | -1.2% |
| 1988 | 1.83 | -0.8% |
| 1989 | 1.84 | +0.4% |
| 1990 | 1.9 | +3.5% |
| 1991 | 1.85 | -2.8% |
| 1992 | 1.89 | +2.1% |
| 1993 | 1.86 | -1.5% |
| 1994 | 1.84 | -0.9% |
| 1995 | 1.82 | -1.1% |
| 1996 | 1.8 | -1.4% |
| 1997 | 1.78 | -1.0% |
| 1998 | 1.76 | -0.9% |
| 1999 | 1.75 | -0.4% |
| 2000 | 1.76 | +0.1% |
| 2001 | 1.74 | -1.0% |
| 2002 | 1.76 | +1.0% |
| 2003 | 1.75 | -0.5% |
| 2004 | 1.77 | +1.1% |
| 2005 | 1.81 | +2.2% |
| 2006 | 1.91 | +5.6% |
| 2007 | 1.96 | +2.7% |
| 2008 | 1.98 | +1.3% |
| 2009 | 1.97 | -0.7% |
| 2010 | 1.93 | -2.2% |
| 2011 | 1.93 | -0.1% |
| 2012 | 1.92 | -0.3% |
| 2013 | 1.85 | -3.4% |
| 2014 | 1.83 | -1.6% |
| 2015 | 1.81 | -0.7% |
| 2016 | 1.75 | -3.4% |
| 2017 | 1.74 | -0.6% |
| 2018 | 1.74 | -0.1% |
| 2019 | 1.66 | -4.8% |
| 2020 | 1.58 | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 1.7 | +7.5% |
| 2022 | 1.63 | -4.1% |
| 2023 | 1.5 | -8.0% |
| 2024 | 1.48 | -1.2% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 1.48 is above the median for high income countries, which is 1.45, 1.0× the median. (85 countries reporting)
- Australia's 1.48 is below the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 2.12, 70% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 3.14 | 2.85 | 3.54 | 10 |
| 1970s | 2.35 | 1.91 | 2.96 | 10 |
| 1980s | 1.88 | 1.83 | 1.94 | 10 |
| 1990s | 1.83 | 1.75 | 1.9 | 10 |
| 2000s | 1.84 | 1.74 | 1.98 | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.82 | 1.66 | 1.93 | 10 |
| 2020s | 1.58 | 1.48 | 1.7 | 5 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More population data for Australia
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate 0.5755 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.5057 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.2553 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 32,193 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 0.8589 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.2773 % change on previous year (2100)
- Population growth rate 0.503 (2100)
- Population density 5.61 (2100)
- Projected population under age 5 2.09 million (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is fertility and wanted fertility in Australia?
- Fertility and wanted fertility in Australia was 1.48 in 2024, according to Our World in Data.
- What is the highest fertility and wanted fertility recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 3.54 in 1961.
- What is the lowest fertility and wanted fertility recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.48 in 2024.
- How does Australia rank for fertility and wanted fertility?
- Australia ranks 153rd out of 215 countries with data for 2024.
- Is fertility and wanted fertility rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 18.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Our World in Data, published as part of Fertility and wanted fertility. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 65 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).